“Something like that.” Henry knew what he was looking at but couldn’t make any sense of it. There were four paintings and three seams between them. Along the right edge of the first painting was what looked like a fluffy cloud or possibly a windblown dust devil. Along the left edge of the second painting was a continuation of that cloudiness. But what it actually formed when the paintings were pressed together was a mushroom cloud. The kind an atomic bomb would create.

Similarly, between paintings two and three was a large snake riding on the back of a long-horned goat. And between paintings three and four was a man’s face, so lined with wrinkles it almost blended into the mountain range behind him. Henry rubbed his head. None of it made any sense. Was his mother just being creative, or was she trying to tell them something?

He was about to ask Coralis when he saw how intently the Wand Master stared at the face in the painting. “Joseph,” he said softly.

“You know him?” Brianna asked.

“Yes.” Coralis frowned. “It would appear pieces of the puzzle are coming together. And it is imperative that we finish the puzzle before anyone else does.”

“So you never suspected a thing? She never told you anything about her lineage? Never discussed anything like natural elements? Never took you rock hunting or exploring for herbs? Nothing like that?”

Coralis had been peppering Henry with questions from the moment they left the studio. Now in the kitchen, he foraged for a bite to eat while Henry sat at the table with his head in his hands.

“No, nothing at all. Not even a hint.” He thought hard. Until the day he was given the Guidebook, all he knew about another side of reality was what he read in books about magic and wizardry. He had never suspected he would possess any kind of special power within himself. But then events had spiraled quickly. And now, not only did he find out he had his own special powers, but his parents did as well.

Dad had given him some signs lately. But Mom? Really? Whatever her reasons, she had chosen to hide her true self from them. And she’d done a good job of it. Did Dad know? He had to … right? Maybe that was what had brought them together in the first place. And if he did know, maybe he was going after her right now … while they sat around doing nothing.

“We have to go. Now!” He bolted from the chair.

Brianna looked up from a bowl on the tabletop where she nibbled on dry cereal. “And how exactly are we going to get there? It’s not like we can fly. Next time you poof me into something other than a girl, make it something that can fly … or become invisible. At least that would be useful. What can a hedgehog do?”